On April 18, 2026, Real Sociedad triumphed over Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey final held in Seville, Spain.
The match was intense from the start. Just 14 seconds in, Ander Barrenetxea scored the fastest goal in Copa del Rey final history.
Atlético Madrid responded quickly. Ademola Lookman equalized in the 18th minute, bringing the score to 1-1.
As the first half drew to a close, Real Sociedad regained the lead. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty during stoppage time.
In a dramatic turn, Julián Álvarez scored for Atlético Madrid seven minutes before regulation time ended. The game was tied at 2-2.
The match went into extra time but remained scoreless. Both teams were determined but could not find the back of the net.
Ultimately, it came down to penalties. Unai Marrero emerged as a hero for Real Sociedad, saving two penalties during the shootout.
Pablo Marín scored the decisive penalty for Real Sociedad, sealing their victory at 4-3 in the shootout.
This win marked Real Sociedad’s first trophy since their last Copa del Rey title in 2020.
Pellegrino Matarazzo made history as well—becoming the first U.S. coach to win a major trophy in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
For Atlético Madrid, this loss extended their domestic trophy drought to five years. Koke expressed disappointment but thanked their fans for support.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding future implications for both teams following this gripping encounter.
